252 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 
overlooked among the vastly superior numbers of the 
‘Black’-headed and Herring Gulls, which are our ‘common’ 
species, and with which it associates. On the sands of 
Douglas, a few are regularly to be seen, distinguishable 
from the ‘Black’-heads by their stouter build, more 
leisurely flight, and the want of the bright colour on beak 
and legs, and from the Herring Gull, which in colour and 
make it much resembles, by its smaller size. I have met 
with the species also on the sands at Laxey and Kirk 
Michael, and if I have failed to recognise it in the south 
and in other parts of the northern shores, it is probably for 
lack of closer observation which will likely detect it in most 
similar localities. It does not seem probable that any nest 
in Man, though it has colonies very near our coasts, and is 
believed to be an increasing species.’ 
In Ireland, where it is local as a breeding species, the 
settlements nearest to us are in Donegal, on lakes and the 
coast, while in Galloway it nests, not numerously, on the 
Fleet Islands and other points within view of the Isle of 
Man. It is not known to breed in England, but scatters 
all round the coasts of the Irish Sea in winter. It is 
abundant, and has large colonies on many of the outer 
Scottish isles, as well as on the mainland and those more 
adjacent to it. 
LARUS MARINUS, Linn. GREAT BLACK- 
BACKED GULL. 
Parson Guity. Manx, Juan vooar=Big John ; 
Juan mooar (Cr.). 
This fine bird is by no means of uncommon occurrence 
on our coast, the specimens being mostly single birds, and 
1 But see Addenda. 
